Seed-separator.



H. L. GRAY.

SEED SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23. I9I7.

l fimMfi, Patented Oct. 1, 19m,

4 SHEETS-SHEET ldifarw H. L. GRAY.

SEED SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23.19x7.

LQSOAQB 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 1, 1918.

H. L. GRAY.

,SEED SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED Jim! 23.1917.

Patented 0015.1, 1918..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

L280A%o H. L. GRAY.

SEED SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 23.1917.

1,280,446.. Patented Oct. 1, 1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

put The A p HAROLD LINE GRAY, 0F CRAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB T0CBIBS REYNOLDS TAYLOR COMPANY, OF CRAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPO-RATION OF INDIANA.

snnn-sn'renaron.

resents.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented diet. I, rate.

Original application filed May 18, 1917, Serial No. 169,540. Divided andthis application filed July 23, 1917.

' Serial No. 182,327.

To all whom it may concern vBe it known that I, HAROLD L. GRAY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Crawfordsville, in the countyof Montgomcry and State of Indiana, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Seed-Separators, of which the following is aspecification.

This application is a division of my pending application, Serial No.169,540.

The object of my invention is to provide improvements in a seedseparator for separating useful grain seeds, such as clover seed, fromthe seeds of noxious weeds such as buckhorn seed, which differ fromclover seed in having a surface coating which becomes mucilaginous whenmoistened, and to which sawdust will adhere. It is an especial object ofmy invention to provide novel and improved means for moistening thesawdust, mixing it with the seed so that it will form a coating for themucilaginous seed thereby producing a ball of larger size than theclover seed. With my new apparatus, the wet seed is thoroughly mixedfirst and given ample time for the water to set in the mucilaginousseed. It is then quickly dropped into hot sawdust and rapidly spreadover an upper shaker shoe where it rolls over and over, the mucilaginousseed gathering into balls large enough to easily pass over screens withlarger perforations, than has been possible with former methods.

It is further my object to provide a novel fanning arrangement utilizingan exhaust fan and a blower and a large sawdust collector. With thenovel fanning construction which I have devised the separation of thesawdust from the seed is performed more effectively and the necessityfor a second cleaning of the seed in a separate machine, which hasheretofore been necessary, is now eliminated.

It is further my object to provide a novel construction and arrangementof shaker shoes and conveyers, which run more smoothly than the seedseparating table heretofore used and make less noise and require lesshorse power.

It is further my object to provide a machine of novel construction soarranged as to greatly increase its capacity and permit of successfuloperation with less interference from unfavorable weather conditions.

It is an object of my invention to provide novel and improved means fordrying the sawdust which is to be mixedwith the seed.

It is further my object to provide a ma chine having a comparativelysmall number of parts, whereby to lessen the expense of construction andrepairs.

With these and other objects in view, I provide the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the entire machine; I

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the entire machine;

Fig. 3 is-a horizontal section on line 33 of Fig. 2, a portion beingbroken away tov show the arrangement of members L; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 44 of Fig. 1. V

Like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I provide a pipe Q, throughwhich the sawdust is blown to the dust collector R, from whence it isdelivered to the pans A. There are a plurality of these pans arranged insuperposed relation. I provide endless chains P which carry spaced crossbars 0 so disposed as to sweep over the pans as the endless chains areoperated. I provide a steam pipe K through which steam is delivered topipes M and thence through suitable nozzles N, whereby live steam isdistrihs uted over the pans A, diverting wallslL being provided as shownin Fig. 3.

Members 0, D, E, F, Y, and G, take the place of the separating tableheretofore employed in seed separating machines of this type. The seedis fed into the lower end of conveyer C "and mixed with water at thispoint. ConveyerC is mounted at an incline or angle of about thirtydegrees. .It empties into conveyer E, which also is a spiral conveyer.The sawdust from the lowest of the pans is delivered to conveyer D, alsoa spiral conveyer by which it is carried to one end and delivered toconveyer F, the seed in conveyer E similarly being delivered to conveyer F. Seed and sawdust are mingled in conveyer F and from it aredelivered to conveyer Y. Conveyer Y differs from conveyually shaken downto inclined platform V.

In passing over shaker G, the mucilaginous seed gathers the sawdustabout it so as to form small balls of considerably larger size than theclover seed. From member V the seed is delivered to a suitable grainshoe H. The seed which has collected the sawdust about it and is toolarge to pass through the screening 6 flows into a spiral conveyer 5,which carries it out of the machine. The smaller seed which isnon-mucilaginous falls readily through the screen to the bottom of grainshoe H and flows through spout 7 into the pipe or conduit U. Members Gand V are both supported by a flexible bar 1 at one end, while member Gis supported by a flexible bar 2 at the other end and member V by aflexible bar 3, at the corresponding end which is the front of themachine. These members are suspended by flexible bars to permit of theirbeing given a vibratory or shaking movement. Similarly, grain chute H issuspended from the frame of the machine by flexible bars 4 and 5. Avibratory movement to members G, V and H is communicated by eccentricrods W, preferably shaped as shown in Fig. 2, which are operated byeccentrics X, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is illustrated novel means for separating thesawdust and seed and for returning the sawdust to the dust collector Rand thence to the pans A where it is used over again. I provide a pipeU, at the lower end of which is a blower fan J driven at such speed asto force a current of air that will carry the sawdust and seed up thepipe to approximately the portion designated S. At this point thedriving force of the blower is superseded by the suction from an exhaustfan B disposed in the upper portion of pipe U, as illustrated in thedrawings. A suitable valve T is provided in pipe U immediately below thenarrow portlon S of pipe U, and just above a discharge chute 9 openingout of pipe U. I also provide a suitable valve or vane Z, the primaryfunction of which is to aid in the separation of seeds. Valves Z and Tmay be adjusted by any suitable means such as by rojecting knobs orhandles. The force of the current of air through pipe U is regulated sothat the seeds of medium weight will be carried by the air current fromthe blower to a height sufiicient so that they will fall back intodischarge chute 9, whereas the sawdust, being lighter, is sucked up bythe exhaust fan B and swept along to the dust collector R. A separamemestion of the heavier material is effected by valve .2 and it drops intoconduit 8.

The operation of the machine has been described in connection with theforegoing explanation of its construction. By providing the series ofsuperposed pans, the capacity of the machine has been greatly increased.The fact of using screens with larger perforations and the employment ofmy improved method of mingling the seed and sawdusthas also made itpossible to operate on a much larger quantity of seed than heretofore.The shaker shoes and conveyers which have taken the. place of the tableemployed in former seed separating machines provide an importantimprovement in that they run twice as smoothly, with very little noiseand require less horse power. The employment of the novel arrangement ofa combined blower and exhaust fan makes it 85 possible to effect a morecomplete and thorough separation of seed from sawdust. With the newmethod, the wet seed is thoroughly mixed first and given ample time forthe water to set in the mucilaginous seed. It is then quickly droppedinto hot sawdust and rapidly spread over the upper shaker platform whereit rolls over and over from step to step -downwardly. This enables themucilaginous seed to collect about it a coating of sawdust so as to formballs large enough to easily pass over the screen which has largerperforations than has been possible with former machines, thus causing amore effective separation of the useful non-mucilaginous clover seedfrom the mucilaginous and undesirable buckhorn and other weed seeds. Hotdry sawdust is delivered directly from the end of the lower steam pan tothe conveyer in hot condition, without exposure to a lower or outsidetemperature, the conveyer being positioned in immediate communicationwith the end of the bottom pan, as illustrated in the draw-- ings. Theabsorbent properties of the sawdust are thus retained in their highestdegree, instead of being lost as is the case when the sawdust droppedsuch a distance as to subject it to a lower temperature. The action ofthe shaking platform causes the seed to roll and slide down the inclinedplatforms when it drops from the conveyers in a hot mixed condition. Inrolling over the platforms each mucilaginous seed forms an individualball to itself with enough sawdust covering the grain from the verystart to prevent any good seed adhering to it. As this action istakingplace the good, heavy clover (or other) seed works toward the bottom ofthe inclined shoe while the mucilaginous seed, now almost covered withfine sawdust, stratifies itself in a layer with the fine sawdust at thetop of the moving layer of seed. This gives the mucilaginous seed anunlimited supply of dry sawdust and conmac,

sequently enlarges the size of the individual balls. Consequently ascreen with large perforations may be used, which increases the capacityof the machine accordingly.

What I claim is:

1. In a seed separating machine, the combination of an inclined conveyerinto the lower end of which seed and water are fed, a seed conveyer intoone end of which the first named conveyer empties, a sawdust conveyer inproximity to the seed conveyer, a conveyer positioned beneath theaforesaid conveyers-and into which they empty, and a two way conveyerpositioned below the latter conveyer and into the central portion ofwhich the aforesaid conveyer empties, whereby seed is delivered fromopposite ends of the two way conveyer, and shaking means into which thetwo-way conveyer empties and which completes the operation of separatingmucilaginous from non-mucilaginous seed.

2. In a seed separating machine, the combination of a seed conveyer, asawdust conveyer, a conveyer into which the aforesaid conveyers empty,and a two-way conveyer into the central portion of which the last namedconveyer empties the mingled seed and sawdust, substantially asdescribed and forthe purposes specified.

3. In a seed separating machine the combination of an inclined conveyerinto the lower end of which wet seed is fed, a conveyer into which thewet seed is delivered, a conveyer into which hot sawdust is delivered, aconveyer positioned below the last named conveyers and into one end ofwhich seed and sawdust are delivered, and a two way conveyer into thecentral portion of which the last named conveyer empties for thepurposes specified.

4. In a seed separating machine, means for mingling seeds and sawdust,comprising a seed conveyer, a sawdust conveyer, an inclosed combinedseed and sawdust conveyer into one end of which the two first namedconveyers empty, and a two-way conveyer into the central portion ofwhich the third named conveyer empties.

5. In a seed separating machine, the combination of means for heatingsawdust, a conveyer into which the hot sawdust is delivered, seedconveyers into which wet seed is delivered, a conveyer into which theseed and sawdust conveyers empty, and conveying means for furtherminling the wet seed and hot sawdust, substantlally as described.

6. In a seed separating machine, the combination of means for heatingsawdust, a

conveyer into which the hot sawdust is delivered, conveyers into whichwet seed is fed, a conveyer intowhich the aforesaid conveyers empty tomingle the seed and sawdust, a second conveyer by which the mingled seedand sawdust is delivered to opposite portions It'll.

of a shaking. element, a shaking element for separating non-mucilaginousseed from the seed to which the sawdust adheres, and means for returningthe sawdust to the said sawdust heating means.

7 In a seed separating machine, the combination of means for heatingsawdust, a conveyer into which the hot sawdust is delivered, conveyingmeans for mingling wet seed with the hot sawdust without exposure to theoutside atmosphere until thoroughly mixed, shaking means to oppositesides of which the mingled seed and sawdust are delivered, and means forreturning the sawdust to the said sawdust heating means, substantiallyas set forth.

8. In a machine for separating mucilaginous seeds from other seeds, aninclined conveyer into the lower end of which wet seeds are supplied,means for drying an absorbent material, inclosed conveying means formingling and conveying the wet seed and absorbent material, inclinedvibratory means for separating the mucilaginous from thenon-mucilaginous seeds, whereby the conveying of and mingling the wetseeds and hot sawdust is performed within inclosed apparatus and acomplete separation of the seeds efi'ected on the shaking means.

9. In a machine for separating mucilaginous seeds from non-mucilaginousseeds, an inclined conveyer for moistening seeds, means for drying anabsorbent material, conveyers into which hot sawdust and wet seeds arefed from the aforesaid means to thoroughly mingle same without exposureof the absorbent material to the air, and vibratory inclined steppedtables for separating the two classes of seeds.

10. In a seed separating machine, the combination of means forthoroughly mingling wet seed and dry sawdust,.a vibrating steppedinclined platform positioned in immediate communication with the seedand sawdust mingling apparatus to mix and roll the material and causethe sawdust to gather in balls about the mucilaginous seeds, .a secondvibratory platform to which the mingled seed and sawdust are fed, aninclined grain shoe into which the second vibratory platform empties,said grain shoe having screening with relatively large perforations, andmeans for continuously vibrating the platforms and grain shoe, arrangedsubstantlally as shown and for the purpose of separating mucilaginousfrom non-mucilaginous seeds.

11. In a seed separating machine, the combination of inclosed apparatusfor mingling seed and sawdust, a vibrating stepped inclined platformhaving its upper end positioned in immediate communication with theaforesaid seed and sawdust mingling appa-' purpose of separatingmucilaginous from non-mucilaginous seeds.

12. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination of inclosed apparatus for thoroughly mingling wet seedand dry sawdust and delivering them to shakers without exposure to lowertemperatures, shaker pans in communication with the aforesaid apparatusto mix and roll the material and cause the sawdust to gather in ballsabout the mucilaginous seeds, an inclined grain shoe into which the.said shaker pans empty, means for vibrating the shakers and grain shoe,a conveyer to receive material which falls to pass through the screeningof the grain shoe, and means for the discharge of material from thelower portion of the grain shoe, arranged substantially as shown and forthe purpose of separating mucilaginous from non-mucilaginous seeds.

13. In a seed separating machine, a steppedslantingly-positionedvibrating platform to mix and roll the material andcause the sawdust to gather in balls about the -mucilaginous seeds, anoppositely inclined platform into which the stepped platform empties, aninclined grain shoe into which the second platform empties, means forcontinuously vibrating the platform and income grain shoe, and means forthe separate discharge of the lighter and the heavier material from thegrain shoe, arranged substantially as shown and for the purposesdescribed.

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of inclosedapparatus for thoroughly mingling wet seed and hot dry sawdust withoutexposure to lower outside temperatures, successive inclined platformsarranged to convey the mingled seed and sawdust to a grain shoe, a grainshoe, and means for vibrating the aforesaid platforms and grain shoe tocause the mucilaginous seed to gather about it relatively large balls ofsawdust and entirely separate from nonmucilaginous seed in passing overthe grain shoe, arranged substantially as shown.

15. In a seed separating machine, the combination of a slantinglypositioned vibrating platform having its upper end positioned to receivemingled seed and sawdust in mingled condition before exposure to outsideatmosphere, to mix and roll the material and cause the sawdust to-gatherin balls about the mucilaginous' seeds, a second oppositely arrangedvibratory platform into which the first latform empties, an inclinedgrain shoe 1nto which the second vibratory platform empties, said grainshoe havin screening having relatively large perforations, and means forcontinuously vibrating the aforesaid grain shoe and platforms, for thepurpose described.

HAROLD LINE GRAY.

